Electrical Section

This Section is responsible for electrical review within DPIE’s Building Plan Review Division to ensure the public safety through the effective enforcement of National Electrical Code, International Energy Conservation and Prince George’s County Codes. These include commercial and industrial plans. This is accomplished through electrical engineering plan review and inspection related to the administration and enforcement of building electrical and energy conservation codes and standards. The purpose of enforcing these codes is to maintain a strong commitment for practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.

If you are a licensed electrician or a licensed professional engineer and have any technical questions, please call Robert Welborne, P.E., Senior Electrical Engineer & Chief Electrical Inspector, at 301-883-5905. Otherwise:

NEW NOTICES:
Non-Removal of Equipment CoversBeginning January 1, 2017, when performing inspections which require you to view equipment where the removal of any covers are necessary, the master electrician and/or his designee shall be present at the time of inspection to perform such task and re-secure the equipment once completed.

NOTICES:Electrical Permit Applications Now Completed ONLINE Beginning March 2016, Electrical Permit applications shall be completed online by a Master Electrician, who has permission to apply online using his/her license number.

Non-Enforcement of Article 705.31/National Electrical Code (NEC) Photovoltaic Supply Side Disconnects Located Remotely from the Service Disconnect(s)
Effective Monday, May 9, 2016, Prince George’s County’s Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) will not enforce Article 705.31 of the NEC regarding installation of photovoltaic supply side disconnects located remotely from the service disconnect(s). This action is the result of safety concerns within Prince George’s County, which also have been expressed by the electrical industry throughout the nation on behalf of homeowners in whose dwellings non-fused wiring has been installed in lengths up to 10 feet.

It is anticipated that this issue, as well as the definition of Electrical Power Production Systems per Article 705, may be resolved in the 2017 National Electrical Code. As such, the provisions set forth in Article 230.72 of the NEC will be enforced until further notice.

Building and Electrical Code Changes to Plans on File Effective July 1, 2016, all "Plans on File" shall be updated to include the 2015 editions of the "International Building Code," "International Mechanical Code," "International Energy Conservation Code," "International Existing Building Code," "International Residential Code" for one- and two-family dwellings and the "2014 National Electric Code" with local Code amendments. Local Code amendments are included in CB-90 and CB-91-2015 and are available on the County’s Website at Legislative/Zoning Information System.

Add-On SMA Secure Power Supply Module Not Approved for InstallationEffective immediately — and until further notice — the use of the Add-On SMA Secure Power Supply with PV Inverters is NOT approved for installation in Prince George’s County. This determination has been made after working with Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Until acceptable evidence that overcurrent protection of the circuit is provided, as required by UL 1741, Section 30.3, as well as with articles of NFPA 70, including Article 110.3 (B), the Add-On SMA Secure Power Supply cannot be used.

CUW permit - (Commercial Interior with Use and Occupancy Walk-thru) requires existing electrical drawings for a change in use type and/or occupancy load. Otherwise, provide drawings for electrical work to be performed only.

A wall-mounted battery pack operated emergency illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about the service equipment, switchboards, panel boards, load centers and motor control center installed indoors in all commercial occupancies per P.G. County Code section 9-104-01.

Demand load calculations, including new additions and new additions added to existing loads.

Fire pumps, if applicable - provide the means of emergency sources, service size, feeder and full load running current rating of the Locked-Rotor current and the over-current device sized in accordance with NFPA 20 and Article 695 of the NEC.

Location of emergency power source and distribution system for lighting and power. Also, verify the location of transfer switch(s).

Emergency system and transfer equipment shall be separated by a wall or wall(s) with a minimum fire rating of two hours per P.G. County Code, Subtitle 9, Section 9-109.01.

The drawings size shall be 24” x 36” (min) with scale of 1/8” = 1’-0” (min) and having a text height of 1/8”.

Provide system grounding detail for main incoming service switch including the size of grounding electrode conductor(s) and size of bonding jumper(s).